20 Startup Tips from Top 10 young, “creative” American Entrepreneurs

“If you’ve got an idea, start today. There’s no better time than now to get going. That doesn’t mean quit your job and jump into your idea 100% from day one, but there’s always small progress that can be made to start the movement.”

Starting a Business at any age can be a difficult endeavor. In most cases, an entrepreneur needs to have access to sufficient $$$, put the right Team together, & determine how to beat competitors.

The Research. Business Insider spoke with eight 20-something entrepreneurs named to the 2017 Forbes 30 under 30 List” who know what it takes to start a company from the ground up. They come from different walks of life and have started companies in various industries. But they all share a similar “tenacity”, and are disrupting their respective fields. We asked them to share the story behind their respective firms and their entrepreneurial journey for eight separate profiles. Scroll through below to see the advice they have for young aspiring entrepreneurs.

Learn as much as you can about your industry. Learn what motivates people in your industry and take advantage of all the opportunities that come your way. When I was in college I took advantage of internships in different cities and different sides of the fashion industry in order to expose myself to everything.

Listen to your Crazy Idea. If you have a crazy idea then you need to try it out. Don’t let your fear of failing and looking dumb get in your way, because if you do then you will fail. It’s as simple as that.

Take on a BiG Problem. I always encourage my younger peers to avoid anything that’s too comfortable. If you’re too comfortable, then you’re not being challenged. Do something that’s different and that will make a difference.

Fix something that seems Boring. We embarked on a journey to improve something that seemed boring at first glance. I would encourage all aspiring entrepreneurs to do exactly that. Find a niche that most tech enthusiasts wouldn’t care to fix, and fix it.

Be Quicker/Easier. Eugene Marinelli (29) is the cofounder of Blend, a fintech startup that aims to make the mortgage process quicker and more affordable for lenders and big banks. He told BI that young entrepreneurs should consider the following pieces of advice:

Follow your Instincts. Typically your boldest and craziest idea is your best. Don’t be afraid of it. From my experience if you listen to that idea, it’ll pay off.

Passion. Michael Martin (29) company, RapidSOS, is growing quick. Their smart-phone app Haven, which allows users to transmit their exact location to emergency dispatchers, was launched in June 2016 and the company expects to be in a million devices by the end of this year. Martin told BI that aspiring entrepreneurs should consider the following:

Importance of Passion. When you’re starting a company there are so many ups and downs and tons of challenges. If it’s not something you’re passionate about, you’re going to be miserable.

Find the right team. Finding the right team is also key to entrepreneurial success. You have to be working with the right people — especially early on — who compliment your strengths and weaknesses.

Build the right Team.The founding team is so vital to a firm’s future success. If you’re a tech firm, and most startups these days are dealing with some sort of technology, then you have to find experienced engineers. They’re going to be more expensive, but it’s worth it. Hiring the cheaper engineers will result in a bunch of speed bumps and cause a ton of headaches. The second thing is finding people with operational experience as early as possible. You can have the vision, but you need the management. And don’t underestimate the importance of marketing. You can have a great idea, but if you don’t have a solid team or the resources to market it, then that idea won’t go anywhere.

Be Courageous. You need to be courageous. But that doesn’t mean you should be overly confident. Humility and knowing where you fall short and should seek out help is just as important.

Don’t be scared to ask for more than what you think you’re entitled to. I always tell young women that they have a right to own their opinion, to speak up, and to make the first move. Ask yourself if a man were to do this would it be OK.

Overcome any self-doubt. I am a firm believer that the only person who can make you feel inferior is yourself. When you start a business or try to challenge the status quo there will be a lot of people who will put you down and try to tell you that you or your idea is wrong. Don’t let that make you feel inferior. For women, specifically, Wolfe offers advice that reflects the philosophy of the app she created:

Be your own Customer. We created RewardStyle to create something that I really needed. Look for problems in your own life, a real problem that you and other people have, and try to fix it. And if you continue to be your own costumer, then you will be able to properly critique and improve your product.

Read as much as you can. Read everything and anything you can about your industry so you’re informed when you go to conferences and events. Make sure you’re always looking for people who can help you reach your company goals.

RewardStyle. When Amber Venz Box was 23-years-old and working as a personal shopper, she launched a Blog to attract potential clients. That project led to the creation of her current company RewardStyle, a platform that allows so-called influencers “to make cash from their social media content.” Box told BI young entrepreneurs should consider the following:

Don’t blindly follow the Status Quo. One of the biggest mistakes I made early on had to do with the structuring of the company. I thought that I had to do what everyone else was doing and that made things difficult for us in the beginning. When I was backed into a corner, I was able to think of a creative solution that worked better.

Bumble a little. Whitney Wolfe’s (27) firm she founded, Bumble, turns the dating world on its head. On Bumble, women make the first move. Unlike other dating apps, guys can’t send the first message after a match. Once a match is made, the woman must message the guy within 24 hours otherwise the match disappears forever. Here’s her advice for young entrepreneurs:

It’s not all about Disruption. The notion of disruption is very in vogue these days. But from my experience, it’s not always about disrupting an existing industry but partnering with it and then improving it.

Comments: Would you like to share any other Tips on Starting a Business?